She turns left at the end of the block, leading me deeper into the city. “Some live here with their mates. It happens more than you might think, but the rest of the country keeps it quiet because of elitist assholes. Female shifter births are simply too low these days, and people get lonely. It’s not a problem as long as they follow the same rules we do, and don’t go blabbing about our existence to the human world.”
Snapping her teeth at someone that gets too close to me, they blanch and hop off the sidewalk, walking in the street and eyeing Carina like she’s a feral animal. Without missing a beat, she happily chirps, “Occasionally tourists swing through, but we’re so far out of the way that it’s rare, and they stick out like sore thumbs. It goes without mentioning that our residents keep things under wraps around them, but if an accidental reveal happens, we take it on a case by case basis. Some choose to stay, usually the monster fuckers that are hoping to catch the eye of someone that’ll rail them into next week, and others... Well, wearehigh up in the mountains. Narrow roads and poor weather lead to tragic accidents.”
Before I have to figure out a reply, she’s pulling me past a set of double glass doors. “Come on, I want to show you one of my favorite places.”
A woman looks up from the front desk, tucking one of her small braids behind her ear and offering Carina a flirtatious smile. “It’s been a while, Rina. Getting into trouble?”
“Me?” She scoffs. “Always, but at least I have fun stories to regale you with. Another time though, Zuri. I want to show my friend where the cool kids hang out.”
Warm, umber eyes shift from Carina to me. “Thinking about joining?”
“That entirely depends on what she’s about to show me.”
Both of them chuckle, and Zuri shoos us away. “Go convert her for me. There's a bonus this month for whoever signs up the most new members, and your girl’s got rent to pay.” With a salute, Carina leads me past the lobby through another set of doors.
“Afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you, because I don’t hate myself enough yet to join a gym.”
Rising on her toes, she whispers in my ear, “We’re not here for that, don’t worry. Trust me.”
She says that like it’s so easy to put my faith in someone I only met an hour ago. Carina’s a wild card, and I’d be a fool to take her at face value simply because she’s related to one of my mates. Family members are without a doubt people’s prime blind spots; no question. We’re willing to overlook a lot for the people we love, but the people that were supposed to love me more than anyone else in the world sold me out, so I’m not particularly inclined to rest my fate in a relative stranger’s hands simply because we share a last name now.
The room is not only huge, but nearly all of the machines are in use by hulking shifters that could easily snap my neck like a toothpick. Upon noticing us, several stop what they’re doing, wiping sweat off their faces and sitting up for a better view. Closest to us can only be described as a viking. Stacked as hell with arctic eyes, and hair so pale blonde it’s nearly white twisted in convoluted rows of small braids on the sides of his head, and the longer section on top is tied off in a small bun to keep it off his neck. As soon as he catches sight of Carina, his features light up.
“Good to see you, Rin, it’s been too long. Been keeping busy?” he asks, getting to his feet.
Her grip on my hand tightens imperceptibly, and my gaze bounces between the two of them as she nonchalantly shrugs a single shoulder. “You know how it goes. When Raiden’s out of town,someonehas to keep this place from going up in flames. Heavy is the head that contains all the passwords to pay the bills, or whatever the hell the kids are saying these days. Been kicking ass and taking names in my place while I’ve been gone?”
A playful smirk rises on his face, and I swear, the sleeve of my jacket gets a few degrees hotter. “List a mile long.” Heat creeps up his neck as he remembers they have an audience and he hastily clears his throat. “Who’s your friend?”
Embracing the sexual tension, but spinning it to give her the high ground, she trails her fingertips down my shoulder. “Avert your eyes, Torin, this lovely lady is spoken for. Even convinced her to take my last name; you know where to send the wedding gift.”
If I wasn’t studying their interaction so closely, I’d have missed the way his expression briefly falls before he plasters on a smile that no longer reaches his eyes. “No shit? Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”
Carina sighs dramatically, raising her voice a notch. “Sadly no, my brother beat me to her.” He perks up a bit, and it takes everything I have not to just mash their faces together, they’re so infuriatingly cute. “This is Amara, the newest member of the Garrison legion. Stone, Raiden, and Kodiak's mate.”
Dead silence falls, even the people that were still working out pulling to a stop as they shamelessly eavesdrop.
I squirm uncomfortably and offer a half-assed wave. “Nice to meet you.”
Shaking himself out of it, Torin offers a hand to shake, then immediately retracts it, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amara.” He turns to the man at the next machine and smacks the back of his hand against the guy’s chest, hissing, “Get them some chairs set up and something to drink, idiot.” Facing me again as the other man hauls ass out of the room, he swallows. “Rin brought you to watch today’s match, I take it?”
Subtly shooting her a confused look, I tentatively drawl, “... Yes?”
On the other side of the room, one guy whispers, “Told you it wasn’t just a rumor.”
His friend is swift to reply, “Bennet’s going to be so pissed he missed it.”
Jumping to his feet, the first retorts, “Serves him right for ducking out early today. Come on.” They dart off into a hallway across the room, along with everyone else except Torin.
I’m super fucking confused, but hold off asking Carina what she dragged me into until we’re alone. She has a devilish grin as Torin guides us up a set of stairs and through another door, but says nothing.
Offering a sheepish smile, he stands a little straighter. “Most of these men I’ve had a hand in training at some point. There are a few I doubt are up to the level you’re looking for, but I’m not going to name any names and bias you against anyone; their actions can speak for themselves.”
At the end of the hallway is yet another door, and when he holds it open for us to pass through first, my eyes widen. There’s a track wrapping around the second floor with only a waist-high guard rail in the center. It overlooks a pit the size of a football stadium, but it’s set up with various terrains like a survival colosseum. Striding up to the railing and taking a firm hold, I look down to find several men already fighting, a few tossing brief glances up our way as if making sure we’re watching.
There are two folding chairs set up on the track dead center in the middle of one side with bottles of water waiting on the floor on either side of them. Torin escorts us all the way to our seats. “Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to give us a chance.” With a nod of appreciation, he grips the railing and vaults over, jumping down into the pit from the second floor like it’s nothing.
Finally alone, I face Carina with a raised eyebrow.
